Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner s Office Dr. Thomas P. Gilson, M.D.
Overview Mission Current conditions Future considerations
Mission Statement The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner s Office is a public service agency responsible for the investigation of violent, suspicious and sudden and unexpected deaths and the provision of laboratory services. The agency is committed to the dignified and compassionate performance of these duties with impartiality and the highest professional levels of quality and timeliness in the service of the general public, medical and legal communities and the overall public health of the citizens of Cuyahoga County.
Current Conditions Operations Budget Personnel
Operations Cuyahoga County Charter Provision 5.03 Medical Examiner: Powers, Duties and Qualifications All powers now or hereafter vested in or imposed upon county coroners by general law shall be exercised by the Medical Examiner. Sections 313.11 and 313.12 Revised Code of State of Ohio "...any person (who) dies as a result of CRIMINAL or other VIOLENT means, or by CASUALTY, or by SUICIDE, or SUDDENLY when in apparent health, or in any SUSPICIOUS or UNUSUAL manner..." THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL KEEP A COMPLETE RECORD AS REQUIRED BY THE REVISED CODE OF THE STATE OF OHIO
Operations Investigations Unit processes decedent at scene as well as receive body at morgue and secure property and evidence. Forensic technicians assist with receiving decedents at morgue and preparation for viewing or autopsy. Assist pathologists with autopsies. Histologists prepare slides of tissue samples taken at autopsy. Forensic pathologists conduct viewings and autopsies to determine cause and manner of death, prepare and sign death certificates and autopsy reports. Digital Media photographs decedent and will take additional scene photography as needed. Case managers and medical secretaries process casework for each decedent and prepare proper documentation required to produce death certificates.
Operations Medical Examiners Labs and Crime Lab Toxicology Forensic toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms and other disciplines such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical chemistry to aid medical or legal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use. The primary concern for forensic toxicology is not the legal outcome of the toxicological investigation or the technology utilized, but rather the obtaining and interpreting of the results. Identification/Parentage We are an AABB certified laboratory equipped with cutting edge technology in DNA testing. DNA parentage testing is performed by highly experienced DNA scientists. Our team of scientists and specially trained support staff provides you with the most reliable results and personalized customer service. Results from our Laboratory are admissible in a court of law. DNA Our accredited forensic science services are utilized to determine the identity of the source of the DNA profile in a variety of situations including scientific analysis of biological samples recovered from crime scenes, will process sexual assault kits, DNA that is left behind from skin cells when a person touches or comes into contact with an item, and cold cases involving Low Copy Number DNA profiling allows a very small amount of DNA to be analyzed, from as little as 20 to 25 cells. Trace Evidence Assists the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner and Deputy Medical Examiners in the determination of the cause and manner of death by the recognition, collection, and scientific analysis of evidence from the hands and/or clothing of Victims of violent and/or suspicious death. Drug Chemistry The primary function of the section is the analysis of drugs, including controlled substances, pharmaceuticals and clandestine laboratory samples. Forensic chemists in the section analyze evidence items and conclusively identify a controlled substance or perform sufficient analysis to determine that no controlled substances are present.
2010 Data Allegheny, PA Cuyahoga, OH Franklin, OH Hamilton, OH Oakland, MI Nassau, NY Population 1,223,348 1,280,122 1,163,414 802,374 1,202,362 1,339,532 Land Coverage (Sq. Miles) 730.17 458.49 543.0 413.0 872.51 286.69 ME Staff Total (FTE) Total ME Budget ($ M) Number of Autopsy s / Total Referrals 2010 Autopsies per 100,000 pop. 93 88 / 78* 30 42 26 61 $8.146 M $10.06 M / $9.89 M* 878 / 1,226 / 8,647 5,934 $3.809 M $3.745 M $4.690 M $10.359 M 1,155 / approx. 10,000 860 / 3,408 858 / 5,203 772 / 5,138 72 96 99 107 71 58 Accreditations ASCLD aabb, ASCLD NAME, NAME, ASCLD ASCLD Laboratories: Full Crime and toxicology labs Full crime and toxicology labs (Coroner toxicology lab only) (Coroner Forensic DNA & toxicology labs) (No crime lab Ltd. toxicology lab only) (Forensic DNA & Toxicology labs)
BUDGET Current Budget Current Estimate Current Variance Current Variance Personnel $5,998,830 $6,047,468 ($48,638) (0.8%) Total Expenses $10,065,417 $9,892,112 $173,305 1.7% $11,000,000 $10,000,000 $9,000,000 $8,000,000 $7,000,000 $6,000,000 2007 Total 2008 Total 2009 Total 2010 Total 2011 Estimate Personnel costs are expected to increase by more than $500,000 in 2012 resulting from the inability of the Lab and Crime Lab Funds to support the existing level of payroll expense transfers ($1.4 million in 2011) from the General Fund. This increase includes the savings associated with the 15 layoffs. The 2011 personnel estimate includes a one-time expense of nearly $200,000 to correct overtime payments. The 2011 surplus is largely attributed to benefits (unemployment) and supplies.
BUDGET Current Budget Current Estimate Current Variance Current Variance Lab Fund $1,378,000 $1,344,203 $33,797 2.5% Crime Lab Fund $555,000 $555,000 $0 0% 11% 5% The Regional Crime Lab operates in 2011 with start-up funding from the Sheriff s Office ($200,000, Prosecutor s Office ($200,000) and City of Cleveland ($40,000); no funding has been committed for 2012. 84% General Fund Lab Fund Crime Lab Fund The Lab Fund is operating in a deficit meaning current revenue is less than current expenses in 2011: a beginning cash balance of $600,000 is being drawn down to cover expenses..
Personnel 2010 Organizational Chart (last produced)
Personnel 78 FTE s (implemented 13 layoffs at end of May) 6 full-time forensic pathologists (including Dr. Gilson) plus 1 fellow 12 full-time field investigators Includes crime and medical examiner laboratory staff (forensic chemists, forensic DNA scientists, toxicologists, drug analysts and forensic evidence scientists)
Personnel CURRENT Forensic Pathologists (5) avg. salary $125,000 - $160,000 Lab Directors (4) avg. salary $100,000 - $135,000 Forensic scientists and chemists (20) avg. salary $48,000 - $53,000 General office workers and secretaries (10) avg. salary $36,000 -$45,000 Supervisors (various general office and labs) (9) avg. salary $54,000 - $96,000 Field investigators (12) avg. salary $45,000 Receiving and property investigators (3) avg. salary $35,000 Pathology assistants (3) avg. salary $52,000 Histologists (2) avg. salary $51,000 Photographers (3) avg. salary $36,500 Information Techs (3) avg. salary $60,000 Other office specialists (4) $37,000 - $50,000
Future Considerations N.A.M.E. Accreditation National Association of Medical Examiners (N.A.M.E.) Checklist of requirements being reviewed by every unit to prepare for accreditation by end of 2011. Will incorporate as primary goal for CountyStat. REGIONAL CRIME LAB Install ballistics, fingerprinting and narcotics labs into current structure by 2012. Working with Advisory Board (County Medical Examiner, Prosecutor, Sheriff and Cleveland Police Chief and suburban Police Chiefs representative) to review structure and funding to ensure continuation of Medical Examiner s Office mission and duties and the performance of regional crime lab activities concurrently, without interference to either and assurance of excellence in both. Continued Re-Organization and Improvement Plan Awaiting Classification study results; N.A.M.E. accreditation will largely drive other changes and improvements.